Manufacturing Engineer - Electrical

Department: Spacecraft Engineering

Location: Hawthorne

Employment Type: FullTime

Oligo is building a manufacturing-in-the-loop foundation model to automate spacecraft design and production worldwide. Our approach allows customers to focus entirely on their own technology and mission objectives, while we handle everything, from design and manufacturing to launch and operations. Leveraging cutting edge AI-driven generative design and automated manufacturing, our ex-MIT, Harvard, and NASA JPL team work to create the most advanced payload-specific spacecraft at scale in weeks over months.

With world‑class advisors on our board, and fresh funding from top investors like Lux Capital, we’re always on the lookout for exceptional builders, fast learners, and ambitious engineers. Whether your passion lies in spacecraft systems, avionics, ML/AI, or advanced manufacturing, you’ll be collaborating across disciplines on real missions that fly, perform in orbit, and scale internationally.

We pair world-class AI/ML talent with top-tier satellite engineers under one roof to reimagine how space systems are built, starting from first principles. No bureaucracy. No legacy thinking.

If you think you’re a fit, we are extremely excited to meet you.

As an Avionics Manufacturing Engineer, you’ll be a core builder of our flight systems — wiring, integrating, and testing the electronics that bring the spacecraft to life. You’ll work closely with electrical, mechanical, and software teams to turn designs into hardware, validate performance, and ensure flight readiness from bench to launch pad.

This role is perfect for someone who’s taken avionics hardware through full life-cycle integration, understands how to work quickly without compromising reliability, and thrives in hands-on environments where precision matters.

What You'll Do

As an Avionics Manufacturing Engineer, you'll own major portions of the electrical build effort and serve as a key link between engineering and hardware execution. Your responsibilities will include:

Avionics Assembly & Integration

• Build, route, and terminate spacecraft harnesses, connectors, and wire bundles (coax, twisted-pair, high-speed digital, and power).

• Assemble avionics subsystems and electrical enclosures, including power systems, communication modules, sensor suites, and control hardware.

• Perform continuity checks, insulation resistance measurements, and harness validation through established procedures.

• Support PCB installation, card-cage population, and safe ESD-compliant handling of flight electronics.

Testing & Debugging

• Assist in bench-level and system-level testing: functional tests, power-on checks, firmware loading, and subsystem bring-up.

• Use lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, DMMs, CAN/RS-422 analyzers, and logic analyzers.

• Assist engineers in troubleshooting electrical issues, intermittent faults, grounding problems, or EMI/EMC sensitivities.

• Support environmental test campaigns including TVAC, vibration, and shock.

Systems & Flight Preparation

• Work hand-in-hand with mechanical and GNC teams to ensure proper cable routing, connector strain relief, grounding, and mating/de-mating processes.

• Support spacecraft-level integration, flight stack assembly, and readiness activities.

• Prepare flight hardware for delivery, including labeling, torqueing, logging nonconformances, and generating required build documentation.

• Participate in PDR/CDR/TRR reviews as necessary and maintain disciplined records throughout integration.

Process Development

• Lead and develop Oligo’s standards for avionics build and testing

• Build out the avionics testbeds and work areas to meet flight qualification standards.

What You'll Bring

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Electronics, Electrical Technology, or related discipline — or equivalent hands-on industry experience.

• Proven experience with wire harness assembly, crimping, soldering, and connector fabrication (Space/IPC-620 or IPC-J-STD-001 highly preferred).

• 3+ years of experience building and testing avionics, aerospace electronics, or similar high-reliability systems.

• Strong proficiency with electrical test equipment (oscilloscope, DMM, power supplies, etc.).

• Experience reading schematics, harness drawings, wiring diagrams, and mechanical CAD for cable routing.

• Familiarity with power distribution, grounding strategies, signal integrity basics, and ESD protocols.

• Comfortable working around flight hardware, following cleanroom, FOD-control, and quality-assurance practices.

• Strong communication and documentation skills with an ability to collaborate across disciplines.

• Ability to lift 40 lbs occasionally and work in confined integration spaces.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience supporting spacecraft, launch vehicle, UAV, or high-reliability electronics programs.

• Certification in IPC-620, IPC-J-STD-001, NASA-STD-8739 series, or equivalent workmanship standards.

• Background in EMI/EMC troubleshooting and grounding/shielding optimization.

• Familiarity with system engineering tools like JIRA, JAMA, Confluence, or DOORS.

• Experience with environmental qualification workflows (vibe, shock, TVAC).

• Knowledge of high-speed digital buses (SpaceWire, LVDS), power converters, or RF systems.

• Prior leadership, mentorship, or ability to guide technicians through builds.

• Willingness to support extended hours during critical integration or test milestones.

Pay Range

• Salary range: $120,000 - $140,000 Depending on experience.

• This role is on-site in Hawthorne, CA

Benefits

• Equity

• Unlimited PTO

• Medical (Platinum coverage), Vision, & Dental Insurance

• Catering provided on-site everyday.